strollers

[fitzperry]

I don't believe I said anything about a kid being too old for a stroller. I was just wondering if it was more for the parents so they could keep going and going - like the Energizer Bunny - rather than for the convenience of the kids. Does the meltdown happen because the child is tired? Hungry? It might be another reason, but for tired or hungry maybe they need to take a break.

If you're not talking about children who are too old for a stroller, then I'm a little confused. Surely you don't have an issue with babies and toddlers in strollers?

You are lucky that your kids don't have meltdowns. You must be doing something right.

You're right--I am fortunate to have kids who are generally very good tempered and who travel very well. But you implied that parents who rely on strollers are too lazy or selfish to go at their kids' pace. And I can say in our case that it's really not true, and I think that the same can be said for lots of the stroller users out there. We've been to WDW 3 times in the past 5 years, and I've yet to see Illuminations or all of Wishes because my kids don't function well when they're up that late. We adjust our travel style to fit our kids' needs. As I said though, the stroller is the only place where they will rest, so that's why we use it.

 

[antree]

I just have a couple questions...

When did kids change and why or how? It must be a scientific fact and should be studied. How is it that kids 10, 20 or more years ago children by 5 were perfectly capable of WALKING all day? No one carried these kids and they did fine. And don't say Disney wasn't so big, EPCOT has been around a loooong time and kids weren't in strollers then, same thing with airports.

Why is it any different or less tiring to play in 3 soccer games or 3 baseball games a day for a tournament, or dance all day in a competition and these kids manage that OK.

Yes having an excess amount of strollers does bother everyone. They take up a lot of room, slow things down on the buses and trams, take up room on the transportation, clog pathways, etc. And the size of these things can we say SUV-what ever happened to the nice umbrella strollers? Oh I know they can't hold elementary size kids.

I don't understand why the adults want to tire themselves out more pushing a kid who is perfectly capable of walking, yes there are a few,very few, who have a real medical need but not most. I have taken 3 different kids to Disney over the last 20 yrs and none of them used a stroller after 3 and all did fine and I bet very few stay as long at a park as we do. Disney was much nicer without all the strollers clogging everything. I was at an airshow yesterday and we walked about 6-7 miles and you know what almost all the kids were walking! I saw very few strollers and only for toddlers, cause it is hard to push on the field, and I saw no meltdowns, no kids dropping from walking or whatever else is supposed to happen to them, and it was hot and there is no shade on an airfield. Wonder why they can walk there but not at Disney?

Thank you for your sarcasm what would we do without it. I am one of those Mothers who will bring my stroller for my 5yr son this Oct. If you don't like it stay away. My son is not lazy or sick, he is still young child and I will treat him that way. What happen to kids being their age and not growing up too fast, what happen to letting kids be kids? I do not push or run people over, I let people pass me before I go, I say excuse me before I pass someone. I will not try to move out of the way of hitting you, if you Do Not move for me when I say excuse me. I have had MANY people just stand there after I say excuse me and they don't even attempt to move, so Yes, then if I hit you that is your fault not me thinking I have the right to do what I please.

I have seen many kids dragging behind their parents or crying they are too tired to walk. My day and your day will be happier when I don't have a tired, hot, screaming child dragging behind me.

When do we please you? People complain when our children are screaming and they complain when they are happy in a stroller. Face it kids are here to stay!

I want to clarify what I mean by saying " I have had MANY people just stand there after I say excuse me and they don't even attempt to move, so Yes, then if I hit you that is your fault not me thinking I have the right to do what I please."

What I mean is after I say excuse me and you don't move don't complain because I hit you trying to get around you. I don't go around intentionally hitting people.

 

[fitzperry]

Again if you are so sure of your actions why are so many people so worked up that there are other people who think it is silly to see 8 yr olds in strollers. Why does it bother you so much that others don't feel the same way?

Not the op, but I'm not bothered by people who have a different opinion. I'm bothered by people who say that parents who don't do it their way are either lazy or selfish or have kids who are lazy or are coddling their kids, etc. etc. etc. You've made a point of saying that you have taken x number of kids to WDW for years and years and never needed a stroller, and your posts imply very strongly that other people shouldn't need one either. That last part is what bothers people.

 

[Court475]

IMO, those of you who have an actual problem with parents pushing their kids in strollers are in desperate need of a hug and a hobby...

ITA - I just don't see why people care what others are doing as far as strollers and someone else's kids are concerned. Now if they are totally rude stroller pushers, that's another story. But just to be aggrivated or opinionated because you think another persons child is too old to sit in a stroller when they are visiting park after park for days, well that's just silly.

 

[Deb & Bill]

.... But you implied that parents who rely on strollers are too lazy or selfish to go at their kids' pace. ....

No, I said I wondered if that might be the reason.

 

[Hannathy]

ITA - I just don't see why people care what others are doing as far as strollers and someone else's kids are concerned.

Maybe because they clog up the walkways block the aisles in stores, take up excess room on the busses and trams,slow down the loading of the busses and trams, block the dining rooms, make it harder to navigate in crowds at opening and closing, need more and more room parking them at the rides, etc.

 

[wen8jr]

Thank you for your sarcasm what would we do without it. I am one of those Mothers who will bring my stroller for my 5yr son this Oct. If you don't like it stay away. My son is not lazy or sick, he is still young child and I will treat him that way. What happen to kids being their age and not growing up too fast, what happen to letting kids be kids? I do not push or run people over, I let people pass me before I go, I say excuse me before I pass someone. I will not try to move out of the way of hitting you, if you Do Not move for me when I say excuse me. I have had MANY people just stand there after I say excuse me and they don't even attempt to move, so Yes, then if I hit you that is your fault not me thinking I have the right to do what I please.

I have seen many kids dragging behind their parents or crying they are too tired to walk. My day and your day will be happier when I don't have a tired, hot, screaming child dragging behind me.

When do we please you? People complain when our children are screaming and they complain when they are happy in a stroller. Face it kids are here to stay!

I beg your pardon but if you were to hit me with your stroller on purpose, you better expect to get hit back! If someone doesn't hear you say "excuse me" maybe it is because they are wrapped up in something else or doing something for their own child and if there are that many people are you sure they even heard you out of all the hum drum? How can YOU be so selfish and dare to hit someone and say it is not your fault?

You are the reason people are mad about strollers (not the kids) and you better dang well stay off of my heels.

 

[MommySiobhan]

Maybe because they clog up the walkways block the aisles in stores, take up excess room on the busses and trams,slow down the loading of the busses and trams, block the dining rooms, make it harder to navigate in crowds at opening and closing, need more and more room parking them at the rides, etc.

So should parent's of young infants, children and toddlers just not go to WDW?
What would your suggestion be?

 

[ChrisFL]

So should parent's of young infants, children and toddlers just not go to WDW?
What would your suggestion be?

I think the issue is the parents of older kids who are often perfectly healthy using strollers which adds to the problems mentioned

 

[mrzrich]

Again if you are so sure of your actions why are so many people so worked up that there are other people who think it is silly to see 8 yr olds in strollers.

Yes I am upset that if you saw my DS 7 in a stroller at WDW you would think he looked silly. My DS (and his parents for that matter)has it hard enough without adults passing judgement on him.

You can not tell just by looking at a child which ones have a medical need. As I said in a previous post, the number of children who medically need them is much higher than you would think, and yes, unfortunately that is a change from 20 years ago for whatever the reason. We thought about renting a pediatric wheel chair a few visits ago and decided against it for fear he would be leared at when people realized he could walk (and run!) Besides it really the seclusion of the big rental strollers with the canopy that works best for him.

 

[cinderella73]

Maybe because they clog up the walkways block the aisles in stores, take up excess room on the busses and trams,slow down the loading of the busses and trams, block the dining rooms, make it harder to navigate in crowds at opening and closing, need more and more room parking them at the rides, etc.

Yes maybe that can happen when the park is getting full. BUt a screaming child throwing a fit can do the same. I was standing in the entry to a shop on main street once while a 4 or 5 year old was laying on the ground kicking and screaming. His family was gathered around frazzeld and unsure of what to do. They would try to pick him up and he would make himself like putty and slide out of the adults arms. I had to stand there a good 5 minutes before I could get around them . Not that it upset me. I understand how kids are. Have been there myself.

There are rude families out there with strollers yes. But some awful nice ones to. I like to believe that most people that use a stroller need one. Even if I dont know the reason. And that yes they are nice people that wont mow me over. If someone did I would give them a earful ( thats a understatement) but wouldnt think that from then on everyone that had a stoller would.

I understand that they can take up space and especially in the summer they can be a pain and block pathways in a store and so on. But I always make sure that my husband takes over the stoller and keeps it along the wall area so it wont block anything. Or I leave the stroller outside and go in with the kids to shop. Unless they are sleeping of course.

I think the issue here isnt what people are using a stroller but that some of the people using them tend to not be considerate at times. Be aware that these kinds of people are just as likley to knock you over anyway or block your pathway .

So that being said remember if you are a stroller hater then remember that you never can know what the parents needs are and dont assume they are going to be rude .

If you are a lover of strollers just remember that its frustrating for people to feel blocked off in shops and rides etc and maybe consider keeping the stroller outside in shops or along the wall and fold ahead of time when entering transportation.

That solves it for everyone really. This thread is getting heated! Not everyone will agree. But that's ok . Thats just the way it is. Just respect each others choices.

And for godsake it might be Disney but leave Grumpy at home!

 

[wen8jr]

Yes maybe that can happen when the park is getting full. BUt a screaming child throwing a fit can do the same. I was standing in the entry to a shop on main street once while a 4 or 5 year old was laying on the ground kicking and screaming. His family was gathered around frazzeld and unsure of what to do. They would try to pick him up and he would make himself like putty and slide out of the adults arms. I had to stand there a good 5 minutes before I could get around them . Not that it upset me. I understand how kids are. Have been there myself.

There are rude families out there with strollers yes. But some awful nice ones to. I like to believe that most people that use a stroller need one. Even if I dont know the reason. And that yes they are nice people that wont mow me over. If someone did I would give them a earful ( thats a understatement) but wouldnt think that from then on everyone that had a stoller would.

I understand that they can take up space and especially in the summer they can be a pain and block pathways in a store and so on. But I always make sure that my husband takes over the stoller and keeps it along the wall area so it wont block anything. Or I leave the stroller outside and go in with the kids to shop. Unless they are sleeping of course.

I think the issue here isnt what people are using a stroller but that some of the people using them tend to not be considerate at times. Be aware that these kinds of people are just as likley to knock you over anyway or block your pathway .

So that being said remember if you are a stroller hater then remember that you never can know what the parents needs are and dont assume they are going to be rude .

If you are a lover of strollers just remember that its frustrating for people to feel blocked off in shops and rides etc and maybe consider keeping the stroller outside in shops or along the wall and fold ahead of time when entering transportation.

That solves it for everyone really. This thread is getting heated! Not everyone will agree. But that's ok . Thats just the way it is. Just respect each others choices.

And for godsake it might be Disney but leave Grumpy at home!

Great Post!

 

[ChrisFL]

And for godsake it might be Disney but leave Grumpy at home!

I am at home and Grumpy

 

[wen8jr]

I think the issue is the parents of older kids who are often perfectly healthy using strollers which adds to the problems mentioned

I agree.

I don't think anyone on here believes they should completely ban strollers and I don't think anyone on here really feels that if one is truely needed that you shouldn't use one.

The problem is those who use them as a battering ram or use them when it really isn't necessary and I think alot of people use them to "carry" their extra stuff (like a shopping cart). Those people know who they are.

People who need them and use them considerately shouldn't have to defend themselves or get too upset as I don't believe posters against abusive stroller use are talking about you.

Keep an open mind about both sides and be considerate of others.

 

[LilGMom]

I am sure that when people see me and my family people will scowl because I have two boys and two strollers. My oldest used one on our last trip when he was five and yes he is a very able bodied tall five year old. I'm sure we got looks and I'm sure coments were muttered but I really don't care - I'd rather get looks and comments than try to carry my tired out son who can become quite cranky when his legs poop out. My dh and I are very curteous when we drive the strollers and we use the words "Excuse me" and "Pardon me" when needed. If we are in a crowd we walk single file, we have at least one stroller folded before we get to the yellow line for the trams and we can pass the youngest off and that stroller will be folded faster than most families of four can board the tram. The strollers don't go into restaurants and if we go into a shop the oldest will be on his feet and the stroller gets parked. Same thing for the monorail, both strollers are folded while one child is held and the other either stands or sits on a seat. We used a backpack carrier as long as we could with both kids but now to keep everyone in the family happy we use strollers.

The people that will use their strollers at battering rams are the same ones that will use shopping bags, ECVs or their bodies as battering rams. I've run into (not literally run into ) inconsiderate people with strollers, with ECVs and people without strollers. Don't hate me just because my child is in a stroller.

Would I like to be done with strollers? Yes, most definately because that is one less thing to tote around, pack and keep up with. Will I continue to use one as long as my children are small enough to fit in one if it means that they stay happy thereby ensuring a more pleasant trip? You betcha! I will also add that while some might find it "selfish" that even though my boys are tired we keep going you don't know my kids. If we go back to the room to rest they end up bouncing off the walls asking when we are heading back out. The stroller is the only place the youngest will nap when we are on the go. The oldest wants to keep going until, as he puts it, WDW closes for the night but he does get tired. Riding in the stroller allows for him to re-energize somewhat so that he can stay up and go as long as he wants.

 

[mrzrich]

I think the issue is the parents of older kids who are often perfectly healthy using strollers which adds to the problems mentioned

How can you tell by looking at a child that they are perfectly healthy. That my only beef with this frame of thinking.


How many 7-10 year olds do you see at WDW? How many are in a stroller?
Is it more than 1 in 150. I doubt it.

And as a previous poster said that 1 in 150 is just Autism, there are lots of other hidden disabilities including breathing problems, cardiac issues, etc.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I keep telling myself to back away, far far away from this thread but I can not help myself. I am drawn into the great stroller debate (and what a silly thing to debate) once again.

To the OP and my fellow stroller users please do not pay attention to the negativity about strollers on this board. A few months ago I started a similar thread about my dd 6 (who normally does not use a stroller, and is a very able bodied girl) using one ocassionally while on our upcoming trip at WDW. The responses I got on that thread were awful. I was equated to being a horrible parent for even the idea of letting my daughter use a stroller, for my lack of ability to carry her around the parks all day and for my lack of a husband to carry my dd since I am unable to.

This is one of those situations where everyone just needs to agree to disagree.

Those of us that choose to use strollers (and in a nice/polite manner ofcourse) need to realize that there will always be somebody who is annoyed by our choice.

While those who are against our stroller use need to realize that in our efforts to have a nice vacation we may choose to use strollers (in a nice/polite manner ofcourse) need to realize that we are not trying to annoy them or impinge on thier vacation in any way. Instead we are trying to make the most of our own vacation (in a nice/polite manner ofcourse.)

 

[waltfan1957]

Well I personally don't care if someone wants to push their teenager around in a stroller -- Just don't hit me with it. I could not care less what someone uses as a mode of conveyance at WDW (stroller, wheelchair, ecv, etc.), just don't use it as a weapon against me or my family or be prepared to need a wheelchair if you do!

if someone hits you in a wheelchair they will need one. duh

 

[waltfan1957]

I couldn't agree more!

what you agree that if someone hits them with a stroller w/c ecv they will need a wheelchair

 

[zaxmom]

I don't like big purses. They bump into people with them.